Our VR app lets footballers train scanning & decision-making via interactive match simulations.⚽️ Click the link to learn more. Contact
@beyourbest
.com
Ever wonder what passages of play look like from a player's POV? Here's Arsenal's team goal through the eyes of Tomiyasu last season. In Be Your Best, players can replay this exact scenario, learning how to scan correctly. 🧠
-3 Scans in 2 seconds to gather the info he needs.
-Anticipation of the pass
-And then arriving late dynamically to gain an edge over the defenders.
Lewandowski was born with the number 9 on his back 9⃣👏
How good is Messi's scanning? We spent the entire game vs Poland last night, watching, analysing and counting every single scan. This is what we found. A Thread 1/9 🧵
No player is bigger than the team. Compare how both Mbappe and Mane respond to these situations.
One sulks, the other is frustrated but keeps on fighting. I know which one I want young players to take example from
7 scans in 7 seconds for Foden's assist in the first leg against Atletico. When he finally picks up the ball he's completely aware of everything around him. A different class.
Foden possesses an incredible awareness and scanning ability. Here he is putting it to use against Atletico Madrid a few seasons ago, getting the game winning assist
Last night, he was sensational. Foden scanned the field an incredible 767 times, checking his shoulder an average of 8.1 times in the 10 seconds before receiving the ball
The legendary Paolo Maldini once said: "If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake." Good perception certainly allows defenders to position better and stay ahead of attackers.
Great example here by DeVrij, who averages only 1.2 tackles per game in Serie A.
This is a list of some of the best scanners the game has ever seen. Based on Foden's performance last night, he'd be sitting second in this table, with a scan frequency of 0.81
Disguise is in the details. A drop of the shoulder isn’t just about shifting your body one way and then going the other. Just look how Messi goes even further, using his foot position to fool and beat his man 🧠👏
Haaland lures defenders into a false sense of security. One minute you think he’s under control, then a split second later, he’s sent you the wrong way and the ball is already in the back of the net 👏🧠
1.
#DeBruyne
: Very high scan frequency allows him to study all possibilities.
2. #Ødegaard: Smaller scans due to the tight situation. Clearly he had a plan before receiving the ball!
3.
#VanDijk
: Excellent scan timing so he sees exactly when the attacker makes a penetrating run.
How does Bruno Fernandes' scanning compare to Messi's? Last night we spent the entire Portugal v Switzerland game analysing and counting every scan. This is what we found. A Thread 🧵1/10
Losing 1-0 in the dying minutes, slipped and down on the floor, but look at Ostigard’s desire to prevent the goal 💪
He remains aware, tracks his man, and what a clearance 👏
Scanning in defensive situations deserves more praise. Far more risk in taking your eyes off the ball. But as shown, it could just win you a Champions League 🤷♂️
As usual, Messi's scan timing was sensational for most of the game. Eyes on the ball when touched, eyes on the space when the ball is already in motion. 8/9
"The very good players scan six to eight times in the last ten seconds before they get the ball" - Arsene Wenger.
This was of the interesting findings from a study by Arsenal and the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences. Former Wenger student,
@cesc4official
, knows👇🏼
«Speed is often confused with insight. When I start running earlier than the others, I appear faster.» - Johan Cruyff
Being fast is certainly not all about physical ability. Think faster, be faster!
#cognitivetraining
High scan frequency (scans per second) is linked with higher pass completion and more progressive passes. It's no surprising then, that Foden had a 100% pass completion rate last night, making 40 out of his 40 passes.
Dybala's ability needs no explaining, but this clip just highlights why so many big clubs are after him this summer. Full of flair, while also doing the technical parts right 👏
Whoever snaps up Darwin Nunez in the summer has one heck of a player. Perfect scan timing in this goal. Anticipates the defender, and then that finish 👏
Scan Frequency: 0.47
Slightly lower than what Odegaard is capable of, but still an incredibly high rate. This means that in the last 10 seconds before receiving the ball he made 0.47 scans per second. Or 4.7 scans per 10 seconds. 3/14
Erling Haaland is so much more than just goals.
Compared to most other strikers, his vision is truly remarkable.
So what makes him so special? A Thread 🧵1/7
Critical Scans
The critical scan is the last scan a player makes as the ball is travelling towards them. In the game, Messi received the ball 57 times, making a critical scan on 18 occasions - 32% of the time. 4/9
Total Scans: 680
This was the total amount of times Messi scanned vs Poland. We used the TV images for this, meaning that the actual number will be higher when accounting for camera cuts and Messi's position in frame. 2/9
Marcus Rashford is potentially the most in-form player on the planet right now. But what explains his resurgence? We teamed up with
@VideosModern
to break it down. A Thread 1/11🧵
The next Haaland? Andreas Schjelderup is just 18 years old and is already the top goalscorer in one of Europe's top leagues, with clubs like Liverpool & Arsenal rumoured to be interested. So, what's his secret? A thread 🧵1/7
One of the ways that Aurélien Tchouaméni prepared to play CB on Saturday was by using VR 🧠💪
Madrid came out on top 4-0 and he got himself a clean sheet
Odegaard has always taken his scanning seriously. We can't take credit for his insane ability, but here he is back in 2018 using our VR training tool, Be Your Best, to maintain his cognitive skills while out injured with a broken metatarsal. 11/14
Total number of scans: 493
Odegaard is definitely one of the top scanners in the game. This number was the total observed by us when Odegaard was in view. 2/14
Scanning is a skill that even players at the highest level can struggle with.
3 opportunities to scan when the ball was already in motion, and none taken. Ball watching will cost you
To take your eyes off the ball just once as it's travelling towards you is an extremely difficult skill. In this clip, Odegaard manages to do it twice. He's one of the best in the world when it comes to critical scans. 5/14
A Barcelona official to ESPN author Simon Kupe:
"Watch Messi. In the first few minutes he just walks across the field. He is looking at each opponent, where the guy positions himself, and how their defense fits together. Only after doing that does he start to play."
1/2
Scanning is difficult to train. The chaos of an 11aside game is the best place to learn, but for many players, only 1 game a week is a reality.
With VR, players can perform more meaningful scans in 10 minutes, then they would in an entire 90 minute match.
For all 3 of Messi's failed attempted forward passes, he failed to perform a critical scan. Had he scanned in this situation for example, he might've gone for the better option to his right. 7/9
Scan Timing
As expected, Odegaard's timing was flawless. He scans when the ball's speed and direction is set (after a pass/in between touches). And he keeps his eyes on the ball when it's kicked to assess its change in speed & direction. 10/14
Scan Frequency: 0.34
That means in the last 10 seconds before receiving the ball he made 0.34 scans per second. Again, higher than your average Premier League forward. 3/9
If you want to improve your scan timing, frequency, decision making, or all round cognitive skills, you can do so in VR, using Be Your Best. Go to to learn more. 9/9
Deception through scanning 👀 In football misleading scans can be used in combination with body position to fool opponents. This Youri Tielemans assist is a great example. 7/8
There have been dozens of scientific publications written on scanning down the years. The overall conclusion: The best players look at the game, others look (more) at the ball
"I try to look up as quickly as possible, try to read the situation, but football is so quick, it's just a split-second, and then you decide."
@DeBruyneKev
´s vision, understanding and recognition of space are on another level!
#cognitivetraining
#footballtraining
#ManCity
When it comes to scanning, Harry Kane has an exceptional frequency for a striker. Combine this with his positioning, and movement, and you have a word class player 🧠
A masterclass in receiving from Thiago 👏 Two scans, sole of his foot for quick manipulation, head up to confirm the pass, and then just wait for the execution at the end 🎯
#LFC
Forward Pass Completion - 78%
Previous studies show that players who scan more, make more successful forward passes. Odegaard attempted 27 forward passes, hitting the target 21 times. 6/14
Critical Scans
The critical scan is the last scan a player makes as the ball is travelling towards them. Odegaard received the ball 58 times, making a critical scan on 33 occasions - 57% of the time. This is an insane number. 4/14
Even though he didn't play yesterday, take a look at playmaker
#DeBruyne
's high frequency
#scanning
and how it allows him to constantly check for available space and make key passes! Impressive! 👏⚽️
#cognitivetraining
#BMGMCI
#UCL
Tennis is an unusual example for this, but in Sunday's match between Novak Djokovic and Tim van Rijthoven. The Dutchman used the same drop of the shoulder to fool his opponent. 3/8
"Football has a thing: You have to decide on an action in a moment, and your head has to be fresh for taking that decision in the moment."
@Thiago6
, in both words and action, really seems to understand the presence and importance of cognitive skills in football!
Rodri spent the majority of the game in a deep role with all 11 Manchester United players sat in front of him. With no pressure from behind, the need to scan was reduced. (5/11)
"Positionally he is a veteran with or without the ball. With the ball, he makes the difficult look easy." - Johan Cruyff
Busquets might be known for picking the easy pass, but his vision and ability on the ball also enables him to be creative and open up a tight defense!
How to deal with blind side runs! Perception and good positioning allowing
@VirgilvDijk
to see both the ball and the striker, forcing the run away from the goal.
Great defenders scan more!
#cognitivetraining